This is IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.
这里是美国之音慢速英语新闻报道。
American and European officials say Iran may be serious about returning to talks about its nuclear program.
美国和欧洲官员表示，伊朗可能会认真对待重返核计划谈判一事。
Catherine Ashton, the European Union's foreign policy chief, met with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington Friday. Later, Ms. Ashton talked to reporters about Iran's answer this week to a letter that she sent in October. Her letter asked Iran to return to the nuclear talks.
欧盟外交政策负责人凯瑟琳·阿什顿（Catherine Ashton）周五在华盛顿会见了美国国务卿希拉里·克林顿（Hillary Clinton）。阿什顿女士对记者谈到了伊朗本周对她十月份发出的一份信的回复。她在信中要求伊朗重返核谈判。
CATHERINE ASHTON: "There is a potential possibility that Iran may be ready to start talks. We will continue to discuss and make sure that what we are looking at is substantive. I am cautious and I am optimistic at the same time for this."
阿什顿：“伊朗也许准备好了开始谈判，这有潜在可能。我们将继续讨论并确保我们正考虑的具有实质性。对此我持谨慎乐观的态度。”
The United States and its allies believe Iran's goal is to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful, civilian purposes.
美国及其盟国认为伊朗的目标是发展核武器。而伊朗表示其核计划是用于和平民用目的。
In the letter, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, said his government is ready to restart talks at the earliest chance. But in return, he said, the international community must respect Iran's right to peaceful nuclear energy.
伊朗首席核谈判代表贾利利（Saeed Jalili）表示，伊朗政府准备好了尽早重启谈判。他说，但作为交换，国际社会必须尊重伊朗和平利用核能的权力。
Secretary Clinton said the United States and other major powers are still considering Iran's letter. But she said it shows that Iran recognizes some of their concerns.
克林顿国务卿表示，美国和其它大国仍在考虑伊朗的信。但她表示，这表明了伊朗认清了他们的一些关注。
HILLARY CLINTON: "Any conversation with Iran has to begin with a discussion of its nuclear program. And Iran's response to Cathy's letter does appear to acknowledge and accept that."
克林顿：“任何与伊朗的对话都必须从讨论核计划开始。而伊朗对凯瑟琳·阿什顿的信的回复看来是承认并接受了它。
The United States and the EU have been increasing sanctions against Iran. On Friday the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication said it is prepared to discontinue services to Iranian banks targeted by EU sanctions.
美国和欧盟一直在提升对伊朗的制裁。环球银行金融电讯协会（简称SWIFT）上周五表示它准备好了停止对伊朗银行的服务来作为欧盟的制裁。
SWIFT is a member-owned cooperative used by banks and other organizations to exchange financial information. It said it is ready to act as soon as it gets a clear understanding of EU legislation currently being written. The United States has been urging the EU to block Iranian banks from access to the cooperative.
SWIFT是一个银行和其它机构交换金融信息的会员合作机构。该机构表示做好了准备，一旦明确理解欧盟正在订立的法案就采取行动。美国一直督促欧盟阻止伊朗银行接入该机构。
Also on Friday, the presidents of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan met in Islamabad. Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari held talks with Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Afghanistan's Hamid Karzai. The three presidents promised to strengthen cooperation against extremism, terrorism and militancy.
同样是在周五，伊朗、巴基斯坦和阿富汗总统在伊斯兰堡会晤。巴基斯坦总统扎尔达里和伊朗总统内贾德、阿富汗总统卡尔扎伊举行了会谈。三位总统承诺加强合作打击极端主义、恐怖主义和激进分子。
Speaking through an aide, Mr. Ahmadinejad blamed "some countries" for the problems facing the area, but did not name any countries.
内贾德通过一名助理发言，将该地区面临的问题归咎于“一些国家”，但没有明确点名。
MAHMOUD AHMADINEJAD: "Today, clearly all these powers are interfering in our internal affairs, in the affairs of our region with a military presence. We believe that the problems of the region must be solved regionally. We should deny others the opportunity to interfere in our affairs."
内贾德：“今天，显然这些大国通过军事存在来干涉我们的内政，干涉我们的地区事务。我们相信，地区事务必须由本地区自己解决。我们应当拒绝他人干涉我们的事务。
The presidents also discussed efforts to end hostilities between the Afghan government and the Taliban. The government has long said that Taliban chief Mullah Omar and other leaders are hiding in Pakistan. It says they are supervising Afghan militants with the help of Pakistan's main intelligence agency, the ISI. Pakistan denies the accusation.
内贾德还讨论了结束阿富汗政府和塔利班之间敌对关系的措施。政府一直说塔利班首领奥马尔和其它领导人藏匿在巴基斯坦。并表示他们在巴基斯坦三军情报局的帮助下监督阿富汗武装分子。巴基斯坦否认这一指控。
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